History of Foster Care in Virginia | A Timeline of Key Events

History of Foster Care in Virginia

Virginia's foster care system is one of the oldest and most complex in the nation. Its origins date back to colonial interpretations of the English Poor Laws, which assigned the care of orphaned and neglected children to local municipalities, often through informal guardianship or indentured service.

Over time, the system evolved from church-run orphanages and early charitable institutions to structured foster care and group home models supported by social workers, courts, and government agencies.

Today, Virginia's approach prioritizes trauma-informed care, kinship placements, and community-based support, reflecting centuries of transformation shaped by legal, social, and cultural shifts.

Evolution of the Foster Care System

19th Century: Institutional Care and Orphanages

By the 1800s, child welfare in Virginia began to resemble what we now call foster care. The shift moved away from informal guardianship and labor-based placements to rudimentary child placement systems in hopes of finding a permanent family.

Involvement of Social Agencies

As the 19th century progressed, charitable institutions and faith-based groups began to play a more prominent role in caring for dependent children. These social agencies were often the first to introduce structured residential care through orphanages and children's homes.

Key contributions from social agencies included:

Founding of early adoption and foster placement models
Expansion of children's homes as alternatives to poorhouses

These organizations laid the groundwork for the modern concept of the foster home by recognizing the value of stable, family-like environments for vulnerable children.

State Government Participation

By the late 1800s, state governments across the U.S., including Virginia, began formalizing their role in child welfare. Though local agencies still managed daily care, states introduced broad oversight through legal mandates and funding structures.

Efforts during this period included:

The passage of early juvenile laws to distinguish child welfare from adult criminal justice
Development of rudimentary licensing standards for children's institutions

This laid a foundation for the increased state involvement that would arrive in the 20th century.

Shift From Guardians' Rights to Children's Welfare

Throughout the 19th century, child welfare decisions were still primarily focused on the rights and interests of adult guardians or institutions. However, a growing body of public and professional advocacy began to argue for reforms that considered the emotional and developmental needs of children.

This shift included recognition that:

Emotional security mattered as much as physical care
Children in out-of-home placements needed continuity and affection

Though gradual, this transition helped redefine foster children as individuals with distinct needs and rights, a principle that would shape future child welfare legislation.

20th Century: Government and Legal Reform

During the latter half of the 20th century, the foster care system in Virginia underwent a series of landmark reforms that shifted how foster children were protected and placed. These legislative and policy updates helped define modern child welfare standards, particularly in the areas of adoption, family foster care, and Child Protective Services (CPS).

Social Security Act of 1935

The passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 was a significant turning point for child welfare in Virginia and across the United States. For the first time, federal funding was provided to support dependent children through the Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program, which later became part of broader foster care support services.

This legislation marked the beginning of formal state-level administration of foster care placements in Virginia, enabling the state to build infrastructure for:

Licensing and inspecting foster homes
Coordinating services through local social service agencies
Supporting family foster care with dedicated caseworkers and public funding

It also brought the federal government into a more active role in the development of the child welfare system, laying the groundwork for future reforms related to adoption assistance, reunification services, and long-term foster family support.

Introduction of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Model

In the 1980s, Virginia adopted the CASA program, which empowered trained Court Appointed Volunteers to advocate for the best interests of foster children in the foster system. These Court Appointed Special Advocates became vital in ensuring that children's voices were heard in family court proceedings, particularly in complex cases involving abuse, neglect, or prolonged foster care placements.

The CASA model helped bridge the gap between social services, juvenile court systems, and foster families by:

Providing consistent advocacy during court reviews
Recommending services and placements based on close monitoring of each child's living arrangements

CASA volunteers worked in tandem with foster parents, caseworkers, and legal professionals to support emotionally secure placements and minimize disruption.

Establishment of National Foster Care Month

In 1988, May was designated as National Foster Care Month, marking the first dedicated time to recognize foster families and raise public awareness of the needs within the foster care system.

Virginia embraced this annual observance by highlighting foster parent achievements, expanding Foster Parent Recruitment efforts, and calling attention to the need for foster home placements and support services statewide.

21st Century: Innovation and Advocacy

The 21st century brought a wave of innovation and renewed focus on long-term outcomes for foster children in Virginia.

Policymakers, social service agencies, and advocacy groups began tackling persistent challenges such as caseworker retention, transitional support for teens aging out of care, and the need for more culturally responsive, trauma-informed placements.

Extended Foster Care (EFC) Programs

Extended Foster Care (EFC) allows eligible young adults to remain in the foster care system up to age 21. This shift acknowledges the challenges youth face when transitioning to adulthood, such as housing insecurity, limited employment opportunities, and mental health concerns.

EFC includes access to independent living arrangements, education support, and health care continuation. It also addresses gaps in life skills development that are often missing when foster children exit care abruptly at age 18.

Key developments in extended care:

Policy alignment with federal reforms like the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
Strengthened collaboration between child welfare agencies and community-based intervention providers

Modern Approaches: Kinship and Therapeutic Care

Virginia has broadened its foster care system to include more family-centered and trauma-informed alternatives. Kinship care has become a preferred option for maintaining emotional continuity and cultural identity.

At the same time, therapeutic models like multidimensional treatment foster care have been introduced to serve children with high behavioral or psychiatric needs.

These programs respond to complex challenges that children in the foster care system face, such as substance abuse, attachment disorders, and behavioral trauma, which are common among youth in out-of-home care.

Highlights of this shift:

Emphasis on maintaining family placements through Kinship Adoptions
Use of behavior-management approaches to reduce disruptions and promote stability

Data and Technology Updates

Virginia has made meaningful investments in technology and data transparency. Today's system uses digital dashboards to monitor foster care placements, support services, and caseworker retention. Real-time data allows agencies to track the use of psychotropic medication, background checks, and licensing compliance.

These upgrades support ongoing improvements in the child welfare system, giving policymakers, social workers, and the public a clearer picture of how foster families are supported and where needs remain.

Current trends in modernization:

Integration with federal reporting via the U.S. Children's Bureau
Use of analytics to inform Foster Parent Recruitment and training through networks like the Foster Parent Education Network

Despite recent progress, many systemic issues remain. Delays in licensing, inconsistent background checks, and uneven support for kinship families continue to affect care quality. Advocacy groups and policymakers are calling for:

A streamlined Foster Parent Application Process
Unified Foster Parent Education Networks
Expanded trauma-informed community support

Where Virginia's Foster System Is Headed Next

Despite meaningful strides like foster to adopt, increased kinship placements, and updates to caseworker training, Virginia's foster care system still struggles with deep-rooted inefficiencies.

Lengthy delays in licensing prevent qualified families from stepping in when needed most. Background checks vary in thoroughness across different agencies, resulting in inconsistencies in child safety protocols. Kinship families, though often the most stable placement, receive minimal support compared to non-relative foster parents.

To address these challenges, advocates and lawmakers are pushing for bold reforms, including:

A streamlined foster parent application that cuts red tape while maintaining safety
Unified education networks to ensure consistent training and mentorship
Expanded trauma-informed care infrastructure through schools, churches, and community centers to better support families and children in foster care long-term

Your Role in Shaping the Future

Virginia's foster care system stands at a critical crossroads. Children across the Commonwealth are still waiting for stable homes, consistent support, and a system that puts their well-being first. Even as recently as 2023, an AFCARS report showed that 20,000 young people leave the foster care program without an adoptive family.

We can bring that number down, but only if more people step forward and get involved.

That means potential foster parents, family law attorneys, community leaders, and everyday citizens can all help shape the future of foster care.

If you want to help the system take the next step and ensure foster care systems work, you can get involved by:

Volunteering with a Foster Parent Support Group or CASA
Pushing for smarter, family-first legislation in your community
Beginning the process to become a licensed foster caregiver

The system cannot change itself. It needs committed individuals ready to act. Now is the time to stand up for children in foster care.